Around the League - Monday, Sept. 25

Scout.com

09/26/2005

If defensive end Courtney Brown can avoid injuries -- a big if considering he missed 31 games the past four years because he was hurt -- the Broncos are excited about what he could bring to their defense. Read more about Brown and other Hot Topics about the Denver Broncosin today's edition of Around the League.

After opening the season as the Vikings' No. 1 running back, Michael Bennett has become the team's forgotten man.

Benched in the second quarter of the Vikings' Week 2 loss in Cincinnati
after losing two fumbles, Bennett was on the field for two fourth-quarter
plays in the Vikings' 33-16 victory over New Orleans on Sunday.

Bennett was handed the ball on both occasions, gaining a total of 4 yards
before departing. Mewelde Moore got the majority of the work against the
Saints, carrying 23 times for 101 yards. It was the Vikings' first 100-yard
rushing game of the season.

"I thought I would play a little more," Bennett said. "For me (it's
important) to keep my head up, keep my confidence and just keep battling
through it ... just stay focused. I've been in this league for five years;
I've been here this long, and ... I'm a pro. So, I understand the business
part of the game. My thing is to keep my head up, stay healthy and look
forward to the future."

That future certainly does not appear to be in Minnesota. The Vikings
reportedly talked to the Arizona Cardinals last week about a deal involving
Bennett. He is in the last season of his contract and at this point it
appears the Vikings would have little interest in keeping him.

"I don't know, it's too early to say," Bennett said when asked about his
future. "I'll leave that to those who have the power or have the control.
But I'll be back, it's no issue right now."

Moore, who leads the Vikings with 130 yards on 31 carries in three games,
has another opportunity to establish himself as the Vikings' top running
back. He impressed in 2003 as a rookie, rushing for 339 yards over a
three-game span, but a sprained left ankle slowed him for much of the second
half of the season.

Moore sprained the same ankle this preseason and did not have a rushing
attempt in the season opener against Tampa Bay.

"Mewelde Moore runs hard; he has to take his game to the next level and
finish drives," coach Mike Tice said. "He has a long way to go; he made a
number of mistakes like everyone did. ... But he has a lot of talent. He's
smart, he's tough. He has a knack for breaking tackles. He has a strong
lower body, and he has a desire to be good, so it was a plus for us to get
him going in there."

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DENVER BRONCOS
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HOT TOPIC

The Broncos hoped when they signed defensive end Courtney Brown that
he could just stay healthy.

The Broncos looked at Brown on film and saw flashes of the player
who was once the first overall pick of the draft.

The Broncos had to wait for a while to see the Brown who played so
well in college at Penn State because he was hurt, something the
Cleveland Browns became accustomed to. Brown dislocated his elbow a week into
training camp this summer and missed the entire preseason and Denver's
first game.

But Brown played in Week 2, and the player that the Broncos had told
everybody about was on display. Brown played well against San Diego. He
picked up a sack when he powered left tackle Roman Oben backward into
quarterback Drew Brees.

"It felt good to be out there," Brown said. "It was a blessing to be
out there. It had been awhile since I was on a playing field, so it
felt good."

If Brown can avoid injuries -- a big if considering he missed 31
games the past four years because he was hurt -- the Broncos are excited
about what he could bring to their defense. Brown was slated to be
Denver's starting strong-side end. Weak-side end Trevor Pryce would benefit
if Brown can draw some attention away from him.

The Broncos think Brown, who is an impressive physical presence, can
handle the responsibilities the strong-side position has against the
run and he can also get a pass rush as he did against San Diego.

"His deal is as a presence in the running game and as a pass
rusher," assistant defensive line coach Andre Patterson said. "I think that's
going to add a good element to our defense."

PLAYER NOTES

--TE Stephen Alexander hasn't been a big part of Denver's passing
game. His role looks pretty clear, that he'll be the blocker and Jeb Putzier will be the downfield target when the Broncos use both tight ends.

--RB Quentin Griffin, who was re-signed last week, can be a
different type of back for the Broncos. They have always liked his quickness
and ability to make tacklers miss in the open field. If there are
injuries, Griffin could have a role in Denver's backfield.

--DT Gerard Warren is off to a good start with the Broncos. Warren
has talent, he just struggled with the expectations placed on him in
Cleveland. The Broncos feel he can have a big year now that he's not
saddled with so much pressure.

--QB Bradlee Van Pelt is the only quarterback in Denver's
organization other than Jake Plummer. The team released Kliff Kingsbury. The
Broncos might bring in another young quarterback for the practice squad or
a veteran to be the third quarterback later in the year.

--WR Darius Watts will have a tough time getting more playing time
as the season goes on. He was dropped from third to fourth on the depth
chart at receiver, and third receiver Charlie Adams is playing well.
Watts had problems with dropped passes, which is why he fell out of
favor.